Engine starting apparatus



Aug-.16, 1932- J.,B. DYE'R ET AL ,3

ENGINE STARTING APPARATUS Filed July 17, 1 928 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Aug. 16,1932. J. B. DYER ET AL ,96

ENGINE STARTING APPARATUS Filed July 17, 1928- 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 PatentedAug. 16, 1932 UNITED STA res tense PATEM f a'oninzinrnn em) JOHNW.rewson, or iinnnasongnvn-reiva, Assr'enoasro DELGO- 'nnnrv'oonronerron,or nevron, "OHIO, A oonronarron or DELAW RE ENGINE STARTING APPARATUSApplication 'filed. July .17,

This invention relates to apparatus for starting an internal combustionengine and :particularlyto the type of starting apparatus whichcomprises a motor, a gear or other connecting member driven by the-motorand movable axially into engagement with a rotat-able part: of the:engine to be started.

' vide-for. connecting the motor with the engine beforethe motor isoperated-andalso constructed to :provide for automaticallydisaconnecting; the motor :from the engine when the engine becomes selfoperating.

Further'olnects and advantages of the pres GIitlIlVGlltlOIlwill'beapparent from the fol lowing; description, reference being had tothe accompanying; drawings; wherein a. preferred form of embodiment.ofthe'present invention is clearly shown.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a fragmentarylongitudinal sectional view ofrengine startingapparatus embodying" the present invention.

Fig. 2: is afragmentary end view taken on the plane of the'line 2- 2 ofFig. 1.

3 is a sectional'view-on the line 3 3 of l.

tis a plan view of a sheet metalpiece from which a part of the startingapparatus is made.

Fig. is a fragmentary side view partly in section showing theposition ofcertain parts of the engine starting apparatus just before the motorpinion meshes with the engine gear. F19. 6 isalongitudmal sectionalviewof .a shifti ng f sleeve structure.

. I-is .avi-ewsimilar toiFig. 5 showing the positions o'fparts of thestarting apparatns afterthe pinion ha-s been. meshed with the enginegear.

Fig. 8- is aview similar to-Fig. 6 showing apparatus whil e crankingtheengine.

. Fig; '9 sh'owsthe apparatusafterthe engine has automatically demeshedthe motor pinion shoulder portions 25A and. 25B is of lesser 192s."-Scria1 'mpzesgaale.

.is released. V I

. Referring now .to .Fig. '1, therstarting apv paratuscomprises electio. motor having. a

field frame attached by suitable means not 7 shown withajgearhousingQLadapted-tobe z-and before the .manually iop'eratedactuator i tached to the left endofith-elfield frame :20.'

The shaft 23 supports an armature '24 and-is provided with. helicalsplinesf25. [:That portion of the saline. shaft betweeninterruptedoutside diameter than .the outside diameter ofother portions ofthefspline 25. fiThis splinedgportion 25C between the shoulders 25Avand. 25B normally receives .a drive-connecting-member or motor pinion26:1novable .gagement with a rotatable vengine part ,or flywheel gear27. 'Thepinioii is provided with aninternal annular groove. 28 adjacentan internal annular. shoulder. 29 which .is" of 31in the shaft23.[Thebottom diameter of the groove 28 is slightly greater than the normaloutside diameternof ithe'ring 30. The shoulder. .2 5-1? providesslightobstruction to the sliding movement of the pinion 26 along-.the;position shown-in Fig.1 to-the position shown in Fig. '7ttheannular-shoulder 29will engage thering and squeeze it'into" the groove31; and when thegroove 28 is in align.

;ment with the ring 80, the ringwill expand into thegroove andthusyieldingly mainaxially along the shaft 23 into driv ng en-' 7 a lessdiameter than the. normal diameter ofa wire splitfing 'vwhichfits into al groo've tain the pin-ion infull .engagemen t with the 7 gear 27.

' The pinion ismoved manually intoengagement withthe gear 27 before the,motor-is 1 operated. This manually :operablemeans ineludes an actuatorleverlO pivote'datll upon the housing-21*andearryin at its lower end astud 42-which, isreeeive'd by an aperture:

43 of general triangular shape provided in a shifting sleeve 44. Thesleeve 44 is formed by bending into cylindrical form a sheet metal blank45 shown in Fig. 4. This blank is formed with the opening 43 with thesmall hole 46 and notches 47. As shown in Fig. 6, the sleeve 44after-being formed into cylindrical shape is assembled with end discs 48and 49 and a connecting tubular sleeve or rivet which retains all ofthese parts in assembled relation. The tube 50 is provided with anopening which will be in alignment with the hole 46 in the sleeve 44when these parts are assembled. The hole 51 receives the head 52 of aspring pressed plunger having a shank 53 which passes through the hole46 in the sleeve 44. A spring 54 located between the head 52 of theplunger and the inside wall of the sleeve 44 yieldingly urges theplunger toward the inside of the tube 50. Motion of the plunger islimited by riveting the plunger over at 55 so as to provide a shoulderof greater diameter than the hole'46. The function of the plunger 52 isto frictionally connect the sleeve 44 with the shaft 23 when the plungeris mounted upon the shaft as shown.

The disc 49 shown in Fig. 6 isprovided with clutch teeth which areadapted to engage correspondingly shaped teeth 61 provided by a discorshaft control-member 62 which is connected with certain splines of theshaft 23. The disc 62transmits axial 'movement through the pinion 26 toa spring 63 which is maintained under compression by means for limitingseparationof the CllSC 62 from the pinion 26. This means includes acup-shaped member 64 which surrounds the spring 63 and disc 62 and whichis provided with an annular bead defining an internal annular groove 65for receiving a wire split ring 66 against which the spring 63 pressesthe disc 62. The end wall67 of the cup 64 is apertured to receive theshaft 23 and a portion of the hub of the pinion 26 which is riveted overthe end wall 67 as indicated at 68. The operating lever 40 carries astud 70 adapted to engage the head 71 of a switch actuating member forclosin a switch contained within a switch case 72 attached by screw 73to the motor frame 20. A spring armature shaft 23, a floating brake disc81- 74 yieldingly maintains the switch plunger head 71 in circuit openposition.

The lever 40 1S yieldlngly maintained in normal position shown in Fig. 1by a spring 75 which is received by a recess 7 6 in the housing 21 andwhich bears against a plunger 77 bearing against the lever 40. spring 75serves also to maintain in engagement the members of abrake forarresting motion of the armature shaft 23 after the operator releasesthe lever 40. consists of a'brake disc '80 attached to the of suitablefriction material, a metallic float- The The brake noise will beeliminated.

is; accessible from the drivers seat. If the pinion 26 does not meetwith obstructions by collidingwith the ends of the teeth of the gear 27before meshing with the gear 27, this 'motion ofthe lever 40 will causethe pinion 26 to be moved directly into mesh with the gear 27 and willcause the motor switch to be closed after the gears have been broughtinto substantial engagement with each other as shown in Fig. 7. As soonas the motor begins to operate the shaft 23 will rotate in suchdirection as to cause the pinion 26 to moved from a position such asshown in in which the pinion is completely meshed with the gear 27 andin which further endwise movement toward the right is arrested by thestop ring 30. Then the pinion 26 will turn with the shaft 23 to crankthe en gine. ltotation' of the shaft 23 before the enginev startsbymeans extraneous to the manually operated means, such as'rotationefiected by the motor, causes the sleeve 44 to I be moved from aposition such as shown in Fig. 7 to the position shown in Fig. 8. Thisoperation takes place due to the frictional engagement between thesleeve and the shaft, the shaft rotating in a'clockwise direction asviewed looking in the direction of the arrow 90 in Fig. 7. Normally thestud 42 is received by a notch 43a extending laterally from the aperture43 which is defined in part by a laterally extending edge surface 436against which the pin 42 bears while pushing the pinion into mesh withthe engine gear. However when the shaft 23 is rotated by the motor inthe direction 'men tioned the notch 43a will move away from the pin 42and an oblique edge surface 430 will be engaged with the pin 42 while itis being maintained in the position shown in Figs. 7 and 8. Since thesleeve 44 tends to rotate upwardly as viewed in Figs. 7 and 8 it isobvious that the sleeve will be thrust toward the left dueto the cammingaction between the oblique edge 43c and thepin 42. In this way theslee've'44 is retracted from the pinion beforeothe engine starts so thatautomatic demeshment of the pinion will not be obstructed, also theclutch teeth 60 will be disengagedfrom the, clutch teeth' 61 so thatwhile the engine isbeing cranked the ratcheting of the clutch teeth andaccompanying Fig. 7 to the posit-ion shown in Fig. S

When the. engine becomes sell? operatine thepinion and parts directlyconnectedithere with will be moved; from the; position shown in Eigz 8:to. that shown. in Ei g; 9; Whenthe operator releases. the heater 40,the spring will be released to. move the lever 40.; to normalpositionshown in- Fi .v 1 and to. cause the brake member 48 to pressthebra-kemembers SQ-and 8L againstthehrakemember 80.

Since the. brake niemben' 82- is non-rotatable the. shai'ts 23 isfrict-icnalrly connected with a stationary part and; be quickly broughtto rest. Thiseteature is desirable since the operator may-Wish to.repeat the starting op.- eration immediately afterastarting opera:-

tion has, been; per-termed but the engine has direction to the sleevethrough the connection, provided by the engaging clutch teeth and 61.Therefore the sleeve will almost instantly disengage itself from theleverpin or stud 42.

In case the pinion should collide with the engine gear before meshingtherewith the pinion, shifting-device includes means forrotatingthepinion by manually operating the lever 40 hefiore the motorswitch is closed. If the pinion. 26. co1l-ides-With the pinion 27 asshown in Fig; 5, continued connterclfoclc Wise movement of thelener-4Owill cause the shaft 23gto be rotated due to the fact that the disc- 62which is helically splined thereon is prevented from rotatingby theengagement of the clutch teeth 60 and 61 and also. because the sleeve 44cannot rotate in the direction which thedisc 62 tends to rotate as it isman, ual'ly moved toward the rightalong the shaft 23. It is. obvious.-thatthe sleeve 44 cannot rotate in this direction which is downwardly asviewed in Fig. 1, because. the pin 42 en'- gages. the portion 48d ofthe.notch 43; Con- Seqnenthzthe shaft 23. must rotate. during mot-ion of thelever from the. position shown in Fig. 1 to that shown in Fig. 5-. andthe shaft will rotate with. it the pinion. 26 so that it may beregistered for engagement With the gear 27?. Following this operationthe pinion 26 wilt be-movcd into. snbstanti'al engagement with the gear27 due to further movement of the lever 40. which finally causes themotor switch to be'closedi In casetl ieteeth of the'pin-ion collideW-iththe engine gear teeth in such manner that the pinion cannot be manuallyrota-ted relative to the engine gear, the actuatinglever 40 may bereleased to permit the springo r uths parts tom th peeitions. shown E1 5to those cont-ions hawn; in; Eng-. D ning these ret rn mov me sth-eisc 2ends: to pi al upward y; ewe

drawings as it moves toward the lefitz, .SiI ce' he sh tingi eeve i toupwar Ly; the disc is: treeito turn; as it moves to,-

We dthei eft- S ncedsc 62ii no held fr m P0 ng un rdifi the-sha W- ilnethe rotated manuallywhen the lever-40 is released.

ihereforethe hatt s r a e nly dur ng.- th

ad an ing 026' e pinien toward the gear- He se a r pcatoper ot heleverfiwi i rotate the shaft a '1- pinioninto. anew'angular resin-9 ndii ike y the p ni n an gc r eeth w ll noti m. on a u seq e t riah ilhile m-o i hodii t' t h ares.- nt n nt en; a he 1:. dis lo d. ns t t preerred form, i-t s t be un er to d that other farms ight. e adap ed, allcoming et s: aime s as followe A ngine: dr v c n-p sing-,. in c mhi atini rotatab e Tl im m Ll a lainto. drink-it ng -ge nent th a c atablepar-tot en ne to. be v startech shaft ems; a d nsmb r, n hn nuallyop. rs'eme ns; r mo i g he n mber ax al y 1 torrotatingithe e gaa ahle "he eeember in order to re tetl v being; pressed; a ainst theenginepant. aneng n start dr e omprising; in

mbi ation rctetable nembe mo ab ax,-

ially into d-r .13am en a 'ement with a rotatable; part 0 1: engine tobe started, a shaft 7 for d i ng: aid? mem r. and. m t l y pble m ansfor ni v ngthe member xi lly and pp yi g y e d ng: press e to t e rveing member; in case of collision with the en While being clain l inwhichthemanually. operated means has an 7 actuator, and haying means.auto matically disconnecting the. actuator-from the drix, n ember hcforethe. engine starts and meanstor automatically disconnecting the drivingmember from the en ine part when the enginehecomesselfloperative.

5. An engine starter drive according to Claim njwh h t e manually operatd s a ana nator, andl ns mean f r automatically disconnecting theactuator from the driving member in response to the cranking e ng ne yhe d iv ng. tem.-

ber andmeans for automatically disconnectingthe drivingmemberfrom-theengine part when the engine becomes self operative.

.85' Wi in he c pe; t e aim hich fol owgmepar-t, said means beingengageable With 1 in order to ieo 6. An engine starter drive accordingto claim 2 and having means for automatically disconnecting the drivingmember from the engine part when the engine becomes selfoperative. a I

7. Am engine starter drive according to claim 2 in which the manuallyoperated means has an actuator, and having means for automaticallydisconnecting the actuator fromthe driving member before the enginestarts and means for automatically disconnecting the driving member fromthe engine part'when the engine becomes self-operative. 8. An enginestarter drive according to claim 2 in which the manually operated meanshas an actuator, and having means for automatically disconnectingtheactuator from the driving member in response to the cranking of theengine by the driving member, and means for automatically disconnectingthe driving member from the engine part when the engine becomesself-operative.

9. An engine starter drive comprising, in combination, a drive shaft, adrive connecting member driven by the shaft and movable therealong intoengagement with a rotatable part of an engine to be started, a shaftcontrol member mounted upon the shaft and connected therewith so thataxial movement along the shaft is accompanied by relative rotarymovement, a manually operable actuator for moving theshaft-control-member along the shaft toward the engine part, meansrotatively connecting the actuator and shaftcontrol-member, means fortransmitting motion from the shaft-controLmember axially to thedrive-connecting-member, and means for preventing rotation of theshaft-controlmember while being moved toward the engine part whereby theshaft may be manually rotated while the drive-connecting-memher is movedagainst the engine part. i

10. An engine starter drive comprising, in combination, a drive shaft,a. drive connecting member driven by the shaft and movable therealonginto engagement with a rotatable part of an engine to'be started, ashaft control member mounted upon the shaft and connectedtherewith sothat the axial movement along the shaft is accompanied by relativerotary movement, a manually operated actuator for moving the shaftcontrol member along the shaft toward the engine part, means rotativelyconnecting the actuator and shaftcontrol-member, a spring fortransmitting motion for the shaft-control-member axially to thedrive-Connecting-member, and means for preventing rotation of theshaft-controlmember while being moved toward the engine part whereby theshaft may be manually rotated while the drive-connectingmember is movedagainst the engine part with yielding pressure. H I

11. Eng ne startmg apparatus according to claim 9 in which the manuallyoperable means includes an actuator, and having means for automaticallydisconnecting the actuator from the drive-connecting member before theengine startsand means for automatically disconnecting the drive-connecting-member from the engine part when the engine starts. v v

'12. Engine starting apparatus according to claim 9 in which themanually operable. means includes an actuator, and havingmeans'opeijating in response to rotation of the shaft by extraneousmeans for'automatically disconnecting the actuator from thedrive-connectingmember before the engine starts and means forautomatically disconnecting the drive-'connecting-member from the enginepart when the engine starts.

13. 'An engine starter drive comprising, in combination, a drive shaft,a drive connecting member driven by the shaft and movable therealonginto engagement with a rotatable part of an engine to be started, ashaft control member mounted upon the shaft and connected therewith foraxial and rotary movements relative thereto for transmitting motionaxially between the shaft-control-member and the drive-connectingmember, andmanually operable means for moving the shaft-controlmemberaxially while preventing rotation of the Ft; ft-control-member wherebyto rotate the shaft to facilitate connecting the driveconnecting-memberwith the engine part.

14%. An engine starter drive comprising, in combination, a drive shaft,a drive connecting 1 member driven by the shaft and movable therealonginto engagement with a rotatable part of an engine to be started, ashaft control member mounted upon the shaft and connected therewithforaxial and rotary movements relative thereto, yielding means fortransmitting motion axially between the shaft-controL member and thedrive-connecting member, and manually operable means for moving theshaft-control-member axially while preventing rotation of theshaft-control-member whereby/co rotate the shaft to facilitateconnecting the drive connecting-member with the engine part. T

15. An engine starter drive comprising, in combination, a drive shaft,adrive connecting member driven by the shaft and movable LII Lherealon'ginto engagement with a rotatable partof an engine'to be started, a shaftcontrol member mounted upon the shaft and connected therewith for axialand rotary movements relative thereto, a spring encircling the shaft fortransmitting motion axially between the shaft-controlmember and thedrive-connect ing member, and manually operable means for moving theshaft controlanember axial- ,ly while preventing rotation of theshaft-control-member whereby to rotate the shaft to facilitateconnecting the drive-connectingmember with the engine part,

Cal

16. An engine starter drive comprising, in combination, a drive shaft, adrive connecting member driven by the shaft and movable therealong intoengagement with a rotatable part of an engine to be started, a shaftcontrol member mounted upon the shaft and connected therewith for axialand rotary movements relative thereto, a spring located between theshaft-control-member, and the drive connecting member, means limitingthe separation of said members by said spring, and manually operablemeans for moving the shaft-control-member axially while preventingrotation of the shaft-control-member whereby to rotate the shaft tofacilitate connecting the drive-connecting-member with the engine part.

17. An engine starter drive comprising, in combination, a drive shaft, adrive connecting member driven by the shaft and movable thercalong intoengagement with a rotatable part of an engine to be started, a shaftcontrol member mounted upon the shaft and connected therewith for axialand rotary movements relative thereto, yielding means transmittingmotion axially between said members, a shifting-sleeve movable along theshaft, axially engageable clutching means provided by theshifting-sleeve and shaft-control-member, and manually operable meansfor moving the sleeve along the shaft into engagement with theshaft-control-member and for moving the latter member axially in orderto move the drive-connecting member toward the engine part, and forpreventing rotation of the shaft control-member in order to rotate theshaft and drive-connecting-member while the latter is yieldingly pressedagainst the engine part.

18. Engine starting apparatus according to claim 17 in which themanually operable means includes an actuator, and having means forautomatically disconnecting the actuator from the shifting-sleeve beforethe engine starts, and means for automatically disconnecting thedrive-connecting-member from the engine part when the engine starts.

19. Engine starting apparatus according to claim 17 in which themanually operable means includes an actuator, and having means operatingin response to rotation of the shaft by extraneous means forautomatically disconnecting the actuator from the shifting sleeve beforethe engine starts, and means for automatically disconnecting thedrive-corn necting member from the engine part when the engine starts.

20. Engine starting apparatus comprising in combination, a motor, ahelically splined shaft operated thereby, a pinion drivingly connectedwith said splined portion and movable along the shaft into mesh with agear of an engine to be started, a shaft control member movable alongsaid splined portion and connected therewith, a manually operatedactuator movable along the shaft into engagement with theshaft-control-member, means for rotativelyconnecting the actuator andshaft-control-memb-er, means for transmit ting motionfrom theshaft-controhmember axially to the pinion, and means for preventing theturning of the shaft-controlrmember while moving theshaft-control-member and pinion toward the engine part. a

21. Engine starting apparatus comprising in combination, a motor, ahelically splined shaft operated thereby, a pinion drivingly connectedwith said splined portion and movable along the shaft into mesh with agear of an engine to bestarted, a shaft control.

member movable'along said splined portion and connected therewith, amanually operated actuator movable along theshaft into engagement withthe shaft-cont-rol-member, means for rotatively connecting the actuatorand shaft-control-member, a spring surrounding the shaft fortransmitting motion,

from the shaft-control-member axially to the pinion, and means forpreventing the turn ing of the shaft-control-member while movingtheshaft-control-member and pinion toward the engine part.

22. Enginestarting apparatus comprising in combination, a motor, ahelicallysplined shaft operated thereby, a pinion drivingly connectedwith said splined portion and mov able along the shaft into mesh withagear of an engineto be started a shaft control member movablealong'said splinedportion and connected therewith, a spring transmit-iting motion endwise from the control memher to the pinion to move thelatter yieldingly against the gear when the control member connectedwith said splined portion and movable along the shaft into mesh with agear of an engine to be started, a shaft control mem' ber movable alongsaid splined portion and connected therewith, a spring transmittingmotion endwise from the control member to the pinion to move the latteryieldingly against the gear when the control member is moved, a shiftingsleeve movable along the shaft and having axially engageable clutchconnections with the control member, a manually operable actuator formoving the sleeve endwise and for preventing rotation thereof while thesleeve clutches the control member and moves the latter toward thepinion, and means responsive to operation of the motor 6 newness" forautomatically disconnecting the: sleeve from the actuator before athe.engine starts;

24. Engine starting 1 apparatus: comprising in combination, a :motor', Iaihelically' :splined Y shaftioperated thereby, a :pinion drivinglyconnected with said splinedz portion andniovable-along the shaftintomesh with-a gearaof' an engine tobestartecLa-shaft control membermovable along said -splined-zportion=;and

connected therewith, spring transmitting motion-endwise from the controlmember to the 'pinion to move the latter yieldingly against the gearWhentheoontroLmember is moved, a shifting sleeve movable alon etheshaftand having axiallyvengageable clutch: connections with the controlmember, said sleeve havingan aperture lin'the side thereof. including -alaterally extending notch (defined. by a laterallyextendingedge surface,a manually operated :pin movable along the shaft: and normally receivedabysaid .notch,;a-nd engageable With said-notch surifiacetto move thesleeve end-Wise, said pincooperating with said notch to prevent rotationofthe sleeve in the direction in which it tends to" rotate While 7pushing the control member while clutched thereto, means frictionallyconnecting the sleeve and shaft whereby the tanning .ofthe shaft by themotor will cause thesleeve to turn in'a direction for causing the notchlat-- eral: edge surtace to move out of'the path of "movement of thepin, and an-ioblique surface of said sleeve aperture 1engageable withsaid pin :dnring'rthe return movementithereoi torestore :the sleeve-tonormal position, with the pin located. in said notch.

In testimony whereof We hereto affix .0111" signatures.

J()HN.,B D-YER. JOHN LAWS9N.-

